Donald Rodney (1961-1998) was one of the most talented, visionary, and innovative contemporary British artists of his time. As a prominent figure from the first generation of artists born in Britain who studied art in the early 1980s, Rodney and his peers brought a new dynamic to British art – a previously invisible interaction between aesthetics, politics, humor, and black consciousness.

The book Donald Rodney: Art, Race and the Body Politic is the first book-length study of an original practice that spanned from the early 1980s to the late 1990s and included a striking production of works in painting, photography, collage, assemblage, sculpture, installation, and new technologies.

Through eight meticulously researched chapters, the book examines the social and cultural events that inspired Rodney’s works and the reactions they provoked. From his formative years in the West Midlands as a leading exponent of "Black Art" to a subsequent decade of unbridled visual and social critique, the book undertakes new detailed analyses of key works, exhibitions, artistic influences, and collaborations.

Using recurring metaphors of the “ailing,” wounded, and “racialized” body, Rodney addresses racial and social inequality, the legacies of slavery, police violence, sports, and black male identity in new and powerful ways. By examining the material dexterity and visual acuity of the artist, the book reflects on how and why Rodney’s innovative practice uniquely challenged the distinctions between political and non-political, personal and public, representation and visibility.

A generation has passed since Rodney’s untimely loss due to the consequences of a hereditary blood disorder and cell death at the age of thirty-six. Nevertheless, Rodney’s work continues to resonate with our contemporary age in many ways. Therefore, the book provides a necessary critical perspective and understanding of the work and legacy of an unparalleled British artist.

Pages: 304, Year of Publication: 0529, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm